U.S. ABROAD (March 11): O'Brien returns to action for Ajax in Champions League

U.S. ABROAD (March 11): O'Brien returns to action for Ajax in Champions League

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

* John O'Brien (Ajax), vs. Valencia (Spain), 1-1.

John O'Brien made his first appearance for Ajax in the Champions League since returning to action after being out almost six months with an injured Achilles' tendon.

O'Brien, who missed Ajax's last nine Champions League games, played all 90 minutes in the Dutch champion's 1-1 tie with Spanish champion Valencia. Ajax's Petri Pasanen's second-half goal canceled out Kily Gonzalez's first-half penalty.

Ajax could have clinched a berth in the quarterfinals with a win but is still tied with Arsenal for first place in Group B. Ajax leads the group by virtue of its better head-to-head record with Arsenal (aggregate: 1-1; advantage on away goal).

Ajax travels to Roma on March 19, and Valencia hosts Arsenal in the final group games. Ajax advances to the quarterfinals with a win or tie. Ajax has only a slim chance of avoiding elimination if it loses at Roma.